Is this the trade that Bruce Levine has been teasing throughout the month of June? Apparently the Chicago Cubs have been in active trade talks with one of their division rivals, trying to acquire not one, but two pitchers more than a month before the MLB trade deadline.
Levine has now confirmed USA Today's report from Bob Nightengale that the Cubs have had discussions with the Pittsburgh Pirates about starting pitcher Mitch Keller and reliever David Bednar. The big issue is clearly that both teams reside in the NL Central and there might be some hesitance over the asking price, which may be bigger than expected considering that there are still plenty of teams going for it entering July.
On Wednesday morning, Nightengale specifically named Keller and Bednar in relation to the Cubs' plans in the trade market.
Via USA Today.
The Chicago Cubs, who have dominated the NL Central but have seen their lead getting a little too close for comfort, are one of the teams who would love to get their hands on Keller and Bednar
We know the Cubs desperately need help in the starting rotation as the group has become the weak link on the team during the past few weeks. Even with a returning Shōta Imanaga the Cub could use at least one more if not a couple upgrades in the rotation after already sending Ben Brown back down to Triple-A and sliding Colin Rea to the No. 5 slot in the starting rotation.
Keller, 29, has been decent for the Pirates in 2025, posting a 4.02 ERA in 16 starts. The right-hander has been pretty consistent this year, only allowing more than four earned runs in two of his starts.
As for Bednar, the high-leverage reliever has been great this season after taking a big step back in the Pirates' bullpen during the 2024 season. The right-hander was one of the best relievers in the game from 2021-23, recording a 2.25 ERA with a 31.2 K% across those three years. In 2024, his ERA was above five and was eventually removed from his closer role.
The struggles continued into 2025, as the Pirates optioned Bednar to Triple-A in April. However, since his return to the team on April 19, Bednar has looked as great as he ever has. In his last 26.2 innings, the righty has a 2.03 ERA with 38 strikeouts and only six walks.
Bednar is also 11-for-11 in save opportunities so far this season.
Entering the 2024 season Keller and the Pirates agreed to a five-year, $77 million contract extension. That carries an annual luxury tax payroll of $15.4 million. However, in cash value the starting pitcher will be owed $16.5 million, $18 million and $20 million in the subsequent three years.
As for Bednar, he is under team control through 2026, his final year of arbitration. He's earning $5.9 million this year after avoiding arbitration with the Pirates.
A few days ago Levine once again teased a potential trade happening by the Cubs maybe as early as this week. Could this be it? Or have the talks between the Cubs and Pirates stalled and that's why these leaks are coming to the surface as the Pirates try to engage other contending teams in trade talks of their own? We'll see what comes of these rumors, but you get a feeling that Jed Hoyer and the Cubs front office is trying to get something done as soon as possible to assist a hurting pitching staff.
